Award-Winning Blog


What Makes Good Donors – Nature vs. Nuture?

Does anyone believe good donors are born versus created?  That some are inherently and fatalistically destined for philanthropic greatness while others are naturally predisposed against it?  Before you dismiss out of hand, there is some evidence that there is distribution for empathy and most folks have an “average” amount while other, smaller groups are at […]

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Flat Earth Fundraising — Wanted: A Roll Of Human Duct Tape

The term ‘multi-channel integration’ has garnered more ink, conference bookings and webinar time this year than any other concept in our trade. But … the more attention it gets, the more I keep wondering: If so many are touting the glory of this new fundraising heaven, why are so few organizations actually making it through […]

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Anything New On Your Fundraising Agenda?

I suppose in December about half a fundraiser’s time is devoted to scrambling for those year-end dollars, and the other half is spent concocting a fundraising plan for the new year that will make the bosses smile. Of course, getting that smile depends on projecting growth in revenue! Are you projecting growth in revenue for […]

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It Feels Great To Give

Apropos of our conversation the past two days regarding the downside of expecting or making donors think about their impulse to give, check out this article from NY Times yesterday: Charity Campaigns Try Gentle Approach to Get Shoppers to Spend on Good Deeds. In the campaigns discussed, groups like the American Red Cross and Oxfam […]

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Top 5 Reasons Non-Profits Should Avoid Net Promoter Score (NPS)

Before launching into the Top 5 allow us a brief trip down memory lane.  Remember the good old days when intent or willingness to do something like recommend a product, brand or service was a simple question including in many customer satisfaction surveys? If the willingness to recommend question has parents (weird thought, we know) […]

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Think, Then Give

Yesterday, based on studies of giving psychology, we headlined Don’t Think, Give. The overwhelming conclusion of psychological studies is that giving is motivated by a variety of non-rational needs and impulses and that, indeed, thinking or rationalizing gets in the way of giving. Ironically, the same day, Beth’s Blog cited a study, Money for Good II, […]

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